In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has consented to implement a temporary suspension of military strikes targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian urban centers. This agreement comes as Ukraine grapples with extreme winter conditions that have plunged the country into a severe humanitarian crisis.
The Kremlin officially confirmed on Friday that it would halt offensive operations against the Ukrainian capital until Sunday, though officials declined to provide specific operational details. This lack of transparency has complicated independent verification regarding the actual implementation of this conciliatory measure.
President Trump revealed at a White House briefing on Thursday that he personally appealed to Putin to cease attacks on Ukrainian cities during this period of exceptionally cold weather. “I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this extraordinary cold,” Trump stated, adding that the Russian leader had agreed to this temporary pause. The White House did not immediately clarify the precise timing or comprehensive scope of this arrangement.
Russian officials characterized the temporary ceasefire as intended to establish “favorable conditions for negotiations,” marking the latest in a series of attempted pauses in hostilities since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Previous efforts have included:
– January 2023: Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas, which Ukraine rejected amid accusations of continued attacks
– March 2025: Ukraine and U.S. officials proposed a 30-day ceasefire during Saudi Arabia talks, which Russia effectively rejected
– April 2025: Russia announced unilateral truces for Orthodox Easter and Victory Day celebrations, all of which resulted in mutual accusations of violations
The conflict has devastated Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, leaving thousands without power or heat during the harsh winter months. Recent attacks have targeted energy facilities in Odesa and Kharkiv, with a Wednesday strike on the Kyiv region resulting in two fatalities and four injuries.